Creativity is Justice in Action

I once read a quote: “I’m not a product of my circumstances, I am a product of my decisions.”

That phrase stuck with me like a splinter. Irritating. Uncomfortable. Demanding attention.

Why does it bother me?

Because it oversimplifies a complex reality.

Yes, personal responsibility matters. But opportunity shapes decisions—and opportunity is not evenly distributed.

I was born in the wealthiest nation in history. I had loving parents, access to education, and the freedom to make choices, with a safety net in case I needed it. That’s privilege.

But for millions, privilege isn’t an option.

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A young girl at the Terminal Dump in Guatemala City. Photo by Scott Owen Moore.

When Survival is the Only Choice

For years, through our nonprofit Athentikos, I’ve been immersed in stories of people forced to make impossible choices—children born into war, families ripped apart by violence, communities crushed by poverty.

A young girl scavenging in the Guatemala City garbage dump doesn’t get to choose between college and a gap year—she’s choosing between finding food and going hungry.

Are these people products of their decisions?

Yes. But when survival is the only goal, decisions aren’t about future success—they’re about making it through another day.

That’s why justice requires more than opportunity. It requires imagination.

Children Playing at the Terminal Dump in Guatemala City. Photo by Scott Owen Moore.
Children Playing at the Terminal Dump in Guatemala City. Photo by Scott Owen Moore.

Creativity: The Engine of Justice

The world changes when people dare to see beyond their current circumstances.

Justice isn’t just about breaking chains. It’s about creating new paths forward.

The abolition of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement, and the fight for human rights did not happen simply because of laws. They happened because people first imagined a different world and used creativity to make it real.

Because creativity is justice in action.

It allows us to envision a reality that doesn’t yet exist—and then build it.

✨ Creativity sees beyond limitation.
✨ Creativity multiplies opportunity.
✨ Creativity empowers us to rewrite the story.

Think about it:

  • Creativity fueled the Civil Rights Movement—where art, music, and speeches painted a picture of a just world before laws ever changed.

  • Creativity empowers children in under-resourced communities to reimagine their future. Through painting, music, and storytelling, they turn survival into self-expression.

  • Creativity drives global justice today—murals in refugee camps, protest songs that rally movements, films that expose hidden injustices. Art opens minds, builds empathy, and sparks change.

  • Creativity fuels entrepreneurship—giving people in struggling communities the ability to innovate, create jobs, and restore dignity in places where opportunities were once out of reach.

Justice doesn’t just fight oppression—it creates new possibilities.

And creativity is the force that drives it forward.

Choosing to Create a Just Future

As someone with opportunity and privilege, I choose to use my creativity to lift others who have less.

Through creativity, I choose to dream beyond my own story—to share a greater narrative of grace, mercy, and redemption through a Creator who loved us enough to create a way to restore us.

Now it’s your turn.

Creativity is worship. Creativity is healing. Creativity is justice.

Let’s not just talk about it—let’s create together.

Join Athentikos: I AM ART—a movement using creativity to heal, empower, and build a more just world.

Why do we keep marching forward in something that seems so foolish?

We are fools.

Why do we keep marching forward in something that seems so foolish? Seriously, sometimes I wonder if I am just stubborn or foolish myself. Either way, we seem foolish for pressing on. Today, I finally finished editing “Becoming Fools”, and we received our first response back from a film festival where we submitted the project. It read:

“I’m sorry to inform you that your project was not selected … Best of luck with your future projects.”

Not exactly the most encouraging news on this milestone of production.

Let me set the stage for this message. I’ve been working on the “Becoming Fools” documentary for two years, full-time for the last year and a half, and honestly, “full-time” is an understatement. It’s more like 16 hours a day, six days a week. I don’t share this for sympathy; I share it to emphasize just how truly foolish I feel.

From the very beginning, every step of this journey has felt foolish. It’s been a marathon of impossible hurdles designed to challenge our resolve to keep going:

– The protagonist of the story passed away while we were in pre-production.

– Amelia and I lost our day jobs within three weeks of each other, leaving us without a secure income.

– Our Kickstarter fundraiser failed to raise the necessary funds to produce the film.

– Funds were not raised to pay for the live theatrical event documented in the film.

– The lead character of the live theatrical event quit and returned to the streets.

– We had 485 hours of footage that needed to be translated before we could edit it down to feature length.

– The editing process took five months, working 16 hours a day, six days a week.

– We missed the opportunity to enter several major film festivals for the season.

– Technical difficulties complicated the finalization of the edit.

– Our first film festival notice was a rejection.

– We currently lack funds to release the film.

And yet, we continue. Why?

There are days when I wonder if I have wasted the last few years of my life investing in this seemingly foolish endeavor. Some days, it really stings and makes me feel like a total failure. But then I take a deep breath and remember why we started this project: it is a story that needs to be shared to inspire others.

What is failure? What is foolishness? Italo could be seen as both. He lived his life in accordance with the passion that God gave him, risking everything to care for kids who seemed unlikely to change. In fact, many of the children he helped still struggle with addiction and have not completely left the streets. But Italo didn’t die in those streets. Instead, his passion sparked the creation of a community of “fools” who believe they can make a difference together.

Was Italo a fool? Yes. Was he a failure? Absolutely not.

Like Italo, we continue because we are “fools” living our lives according to the passion God has given us. With that purpose in mind, there is no way we can fail. So, we keep marching forward.

A Moment of Applause Fills the Soul

Nothing fills the soul like applause. As the receiver and the giver.

So many emotions flood that one moment: the sense of accomplishment, the sorrow of the end, the struggle of the hard work and the desire for more. It is reflection of countless hours of rehearsal and sacrifice; and of the belief that you could be more. It’s a time to celebrate, to come together. In this moment, you realize you didn’t give up, that your voice was heard, that others accepted you.

Life without applause slowly crushes the soul. Who believes in me? Who will be my champion? Who will celebrate with me? Who will allow me to have a voice?

For one week in June, I spent my time in a dark rehearsal theater in Guatemala City, observing youth from the streets who were given the chance to take on a significant task. I couldn’t help but wonder if most of their lives felt like the dark, cold theater—without an audience, lacking light, filled with unfinished work, doubt, disbelief, frustration, and a silence that longed for applause.

Disbelief filled my thoughts, “There was no way this was coming together.” I was here as a champion for them, but I disbelieved. Could this event really come together? Could they REALLY accomplish this task? Did they have enough determination, enough skill… enough confidence?

For those who are new to our story: My husband and I are connected to Guatemala through the adoption of our two sons. We wanted to maintain a meaningful connection to the country, so we decided to use our skills in film and photography to share inspirational stories of hope. As a result, we produced a documentary film titled *Reparando*, which was completed in 2010.  We are currently working on a second documentary project called *Becoming Fools*. This film focuses on young men and women who left their homes, lost their families, or were abandoned as children and grew up on the streets of Guatemala. The streets of Guatemala City are home to more than 6,000 youth. Many of these children begin their lives on the streets as young as 8 years old. They often sleep in abandoned lots, beg or steal for money, and resort to drugs to escape their hunger, the cold, the rain, or even worse circumstances.

They are not alone; individuals and organizations are making a difference in the lives of marginalized children and young people. One man even dreamed of hosting a clown workshop.

The handful of youth participating in the clown workshop had the opportunity to perform in front of 400 people at a large theater in Guatemala City. The purpose of this event was to bring to awareness the situation of youth and children living on the streets of Guatemala City. This theatrical performance was the final event in a series of weeklong activities entitled Festival: Voz De Las Calles. Through laughter and learning, professional clowns have been investing time and love into this group, teaching them the beautiful art of clowning. This performance was a dream for many members of the community. It gave the youth a chance to perform with professional clowns, taught them to dream, believe, achieve and receive applause from their community.

Applause The Show

The story of the show reflects the real-life experiences of its characters, portrayed as clowns. Here’s a synopsis: A heartwarming journey unfolds as a clown embarks on an adventure filled with friendship. He discovers new companions in unexpected circumstances and teaches them the art of clowning. Together, they find joy in their newfound skills and decide to accompany him to “The King’s Party.” Along the way, they face various obstacles, but they remain determined to bring laughter and hope to the community around them.

The Purpose Of Our Documentary

As you may know, Scott spent two months in Guatemala this spring documenting the preparation for a clown event, the progress of the rehearsals, and interviewing experts about the issue of children who live and work on the streets. I was fortunate enough to join him for the last two weeks, which included the theatrical performance. It was a stressful week leading up to the show. Nothing is stable or consistent in the lives of children and youth at risk on the streets. Their thought processes, decision-making, and behavior reflect the instability they experience in their own lives. While it is heartbreaking to witness some of their immature actions, I am humbled by their courage to continue living, growing, and forming families amidst difficult circumstances. Although their clown performance was just a brief moment in their lives, the hope and prayers of the community are that they will reap the rewards of their hard work and find inspiration on various levels. I know it was inspiring for me.

And I am extremely proud to say that even in the midst of chaos and drama, the performance was beautiful. It was an honor to stand and give applause to the youth performers. Their talent and determination is amazing. And so we will be sharing their stories AND their performance in the documentary film, Becoming Fools, which we hope to complete by the end of 2012.

Here are some more of photos of the film production, which included a trip to Lake Atitlan and some underwater filming for me. This area has a special place in the story of the project; and is now one of my favorite places in Guatemala! And we got to have a little fun too. We also spent time with a sweet group of siblings who recently tragically lost their mother.

You have the opportunity to join the applause. We will share more about our documentary as it unfolds, however you can support the project now through a donation.